“There are things you shouldn’t question, London, especially around other people. Katia knew what would happen when she agreed to your plan. What happens next is on her.”
“But you can’t—”
Mason presses a hand to my lips, and his expression darkens. “I can, and I will. In my world, mistakes must be punished. Consequences are how we keep people in line.”
I push his finger away. “Katia is loyal to you. She would never disobey you.”
Mason gives me a pointed look.
“Not without good reason,” I stutter. “Are you going to punish me, too?”
Mason’s eyes sweep over me, his face giving nothing away. “Would you like me to?”
“I…” A flush creeps up my neck and cheeks, and anticipation courses through me. “I’m not sure, but I guess it’s only fair since I’m the reason we got run off a bridge.”
I have no idea why I’m asking when I know it’s not important.
Not with everything else going on, but I’m also aware of the fact that control is important to Mason.
He needs to have some semblance of it, and while a part of me doesn’t relish the idea, I also know it’s important to give him some leeway.
Mason shakes his head. “That isn’t your fault. I’m going to make sure whoever is responsible for this pays. We’ve already sent them a message.”
A chill races up my spine, erasing all of my earlier wanton thoughts. “How?”
“Don’t ask questions you don’t want answers to,” Mason warns. “It’s nothing for you to concern yourself with.”
I hate that he’s shutting me out, but I’m also not sure I want to know.
My eyes sweep over his face. “What about my dad?”
“What about him?”
“He needs protection. If they found me there, who knows what they’ll do next? There’s also my mom. She lives in another state, but they could find her if they wanted to.”
Mason doesn’t say anything.
“I know you’re spread thin as it is, but they’re my family,” I continue. “I can’t just leave them.”
“I don’t expect you to. As long as you don’t ask me to protect Noah.”
I frown. “Do you think they’d go after him, too? He is a part of my life—”
“Was,” Mason corrects before pushing himself up and on top of me. He pins my arms over my head and kisses my jaw. “I’d rather not discuss him while we’re in bed.”
I moan when he begins to pepper my neck with kisses. “Mason…”
He stops kissing my neck and looks at me. “I’ll see what can be done about your parents, but I draw the line at your ex.”
My stomach dips, and another surge of guilt courses through me. “Is that part of my punishment for sneaking off, or is that because you don’t like Noah?”
Mason rubs himself against me, and I whimper. “He doesn’t deserve to be protected.”
“But I…” I trail off when he presses his mouth to mine, silencing the rest of my thoughts. His kiss is slow and sensual at first, as if we have all the time in the world. I enjoy the feeling of his taut body pressed against mine as a fire starts in the pit of my belly. Mason still has me pinned against the mattress when he uses one hand to stroke me over the fabric of my cotton pants.
Desire pumps through me.
His hand darts underneath the waistband of my pants, and he splays his fingers over my underwear. Then, the kiss turns hungry. Suddenly, he’s no longer asking for permission. I link my legs around his waist and nudge him closer, and his touch turns urgent and demanding.
